Diocese of

Kroonstad

South Africa

Continent: Southern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Kroonstad / Kroonstaden(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Bloemfontein

Neighbouring Dioceses: Bloemfontein (↙), Klerksdorp (↖), Johannesburg (↗), Bethlehem (→)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Patrick

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1923.11.26: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Kroonstad / Kroonstaden(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Kimberley in South Africa)
1935.04.08: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Kroonstad / Kroonstaden(sis) (Latin)
1948.02.12: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Bethlehem
1951.01.11: Promoted as Diocese of Kroonstad / Kroonstaden(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Bloemfontein)

Contact Info

Address: Bishop’s House, The Peak, PO Box 129, Kroonstad 9500, South Africa

Phone: (056) 212 6639

Present Prelates

Bishop (2026.02.17 – ...):

Bishop-elect Amos Mabuti Masemola (48)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Kroonstad (Roman Rite)

Bishop-elect Amos Mabuti Masemola (48)
(2026.02.17 – ...)

Bishop of Kroonstad (South Africa)

Born:	1978.03.05 (Windterveld, South Africa)
Ordained Priest:	2007.06.03
Consecrated Bishop:	2026.05.16

Priest of Pretoria (South Africa) (2007.06.03 – 2026.02.17)

Bishop of Kroonstad (South Africa) (2026.02.17 – ...)

Bishop Peter John Holiday (74)
(2011.04.01 – 2022.12.12)

Bishop emeritus of Kroonstad (South Africa)

Born:	1952.01.11 (Durban, South Africa)
Ordained Priest:	1992.12.10
Consecrated Bishop:	2011.06.25

Priest of Johannesburg (South Africa) (1992.12.10 – 2011.04.01)

Bishop of Kroonstad (South Africa) (2011.04.01 – 2022.12.12)

Bishop Jan de Groef, M. Afr. (78)
(Apostolic Administrator 2010.02.04 – 2011.04.01)

Bishop Stephen Brislin (69) (later Cardinal)
(2006.10.17 – 2009.12.18)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria Domenica Mazzarello
Metropolitan Archbishop of Johannesburg (South Africa)
President of Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference

Veritas in caritate

Born:	1956.09.24 (Welkom, South Africa)
Ordained Priest:	1983.11.19
Consecrated Bishop:	2007.01.28
Created Cardinal:	2023.09.30

Priest of Kroonstad (South Africa) (1983.11.19 – 2006.10.17)

Prelate of Honour of His Holiness (2002.08.02 – 2006.10.17)

Bishop of Kroonstad (South Africa) (2006.10.17 – 2009.12.18)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Town (South Africa) (2009.12.18 – 2024.10.28)

President of Inter-Regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa (2012.08 – 2016.11)

President of Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (2013.02 – 2019.02)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria Domenica Mazzarello (2023.09.30 [2024.05.12] – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Johannesburg (South Africa) (2024.10.28 – ...)

President of Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (2025.01 – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of Cape Town (South Africa) (2025.01.31 – 2026.01.09)

Bishop Johannes Ludgerus Bonaventure Brenninkmeijer, O.P.
(1977.04.15 – 2003.07.02)

Spiritus renovavit

Born:	1930.07.19 (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1957.07.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1977.07.24
Died:	2003.07.02 (Kroonstad, South Africa † 72)

Bishop of Kroonstad (South Africa) (1977.04.15 – 2003.07.02)

Bishop Gerard Marie Franciskus van Velsen, O.P.
(1951.01.11 – 1975.11.15)

Dominus firmamentum meum

Born:	1910.07.31 (Zwolle, Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1935.07.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1950.07.25
Died:	1996.03.03 († 85)

Titular Bishop of Tremithus (1950.05.31 – 1951.01.11)

Vicar Apostolic of Kroonstad (South Africa) (1950.05.31 – 1951.01.11)

Bishop of Kroonstad (South Africa) (1951.01.11 – 1975.11.15)

Vicars Apostolic of Kroonstad (Roman Rite)

Bishop Gerard Marie Franciskus van Velsen, O.P.
(1950.05.31 – 1951.01.11)

(see above)

Bishop Léon Klerlein, C.S.Sp.
(1935.04.08 – 1948.02.12)

Born:	1877.08.18 (Oberhaslach, France)
Ordained Priest:	1903.10.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1935.05.30
Died:	1950.05.22 (Harrismith, South Africa † 72)

Prefect Apostolic of Kroonstad (South Africa) (1924.03.24 – 1935.04.08)

Vicar Apostolic of Kroonstad (South Africa) (1935.04.08 – 1948.02.12)

Titular Bishop of Voncaria (1935.04.08 – 1950.05.22)

Vicar Apostolic of Bethlehem (South Africa) (1948.02.12 – 1950.03.12)

Prefects Apostolic of Kroonstad (Roman Rite)

Fr. Léon Klerlein, C.S.Sp. (later Bishop)
(1924.03.24 – 1935.04.08)

(see above)

Fr. Guglielmo Herting, C.S.Sp.
(1923 – 1924)

Died:

1924

Prefect Apostolic of Kroonstad (South Africa) (1923 – 1924)

Special Churches

Cathedral: St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Kroonstad, Free State

Bloemfontein (↙), Klerksdorp (↖), Johannesburg (↗), Bethlehem (→)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 30,288 km²

Population: 48,487 Catholics (5.2% of 938,011 total)

Pastoral Centres: 37 missions

Personnel: 25 priests (15 diocesan, 10 religious), 6 deacons, 16 religious (10 brothers, 6 sisters), 5 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.04.16

© 2026 GCatholic.org